Kayaking Safety - The EssentialsWatch this short video to learn how youcan insure that your paddling experiencewill be relatively safe for all involved.Training Canoe Newbies Over the years, Cliff Jacobson has formed afew tests to get new canoeists ready to run whitewater rivers. Read all about them.

Description:

As the proud owners of a new Mad River Adventure 16, we went out for our first real trip (had just putted around a local urban lake for practice).

Got to the lake about 1:00pm, to see not a soul in site save for a few people at Alder Lake Park. We launched into a slight breeze. The air was quite cold, but when the sun would come out we warmed a bit. Went down to the dam. Quite magnificent at that angle- looking up.

Carted around the island in the middle. On the backstretch, the wind died and the sun emerged. What a sight, the emerald green of the water was amazing. Being the only boat on the entire lake, we relished the solitude. I've been camping a ton, but nothing was quite like this. An eagle soared overhead and fish were jumping. Other than that, nothing.

We had been fishing (C&R) and my son caught a small trout. Once more around the island and finally the cold got to us. There were lots of stumps this time of year due to low water
level (seasonal).

Great real first time. We're making a list of new places!

Accommodations:

Bathrooms at launch.

Fees:

No Fees, but a fishing license is required if you wish to do it.

Directions:

161 south to Eatonville. Left toward Elbe. Right at lake to the main boat launch.